‘It all comes back to Jesus’
CHARLOTTE — Recalling that on the eighth day after the birth of Christ, St. Joseph pronounced Jesus’ name publicly for the first time, Bishop Peter Jugis reminded those gathered at St. Patrick Cathedral for Mass Jan. 1 that Our Lady’s distinction as the Mother of God and our bearing the name of Christians is “all because of Jesus.”
“On the eighth day after the Child is born, the holy name of Jesus is given to the baby boy born of Mary. That is what we are commemorating on this, the eighth day of Christmas – a very significant event in the life of Jesus according to Jewish law,” Bishop Jugis explained during his homily at the reduced-capacity Mass, streamed live from the cathedral for the people of the Diocese of Charlotte. (Jan. 1 is normally a holy day of obligation, but the obligation to attend Mass in person continues to remain lifted by the bishop.)
It was on the eighth day after Jesus was born that St. Joseph gave Him the name that the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
In his homily, Bishop Jugis recalled that during that Jewish religious ceremony, Jesus was brought into God’s covenant with Israel.
He also noted, “It is because of Jesus that Mary has the title Mother of God. If there were no Jesus, there would be no reason for the title Mother of God.” And, he continued, “It is because of Jesus that St. Joseph has his vocation as (Jesus’) foster father.”
“It all comes back to Jesus. It is all dependent on Jesus.”
“The Blessed Mother and St. Joseph have the extreme privilege given them by God of welcoming Jesus into the world and raising Him to adulthood. What an immense honor God bestowed upon them!”
And, Bishop Jugis continued, “What a tremendous honor God has bestowed upon us. It is also because of Jesus we bear the name Christian… Our name as a people takes its name from Christ: ‘Christian.’ We are known in this life as followers of Jesus the Savior.”
The name Jesus means “God saves,” he said.
“Just as St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother took on great responsibility, so also we – as Christians, bearing His name – take on a great responsibility of living our daily lives in faithful witness to that name that we bear.”
Bishop Jugis encouraged people to pronounce the name of Jesus as a blessing over their families for the New Year, drawing from the ancient prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace. So shall you invoke My name and I will bless them.”
At the conclusion of his homily, Bishop Jugis said, “Let us begin this New Year with that blessing from the Lord – along with St. Joseph, (and) along with our Blessed Mother, the Mother of God – pronouncing that most holy name, Jesus.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Pictured: Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated a livestreamed Mass Jan. 1, for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte for the people of the diocese. (Photo provided by James Sarkis)